11 easy steps to sow seeds this Spring

As soon as spring arrives we can make the most of extra daylight and warmth to prepare for a bloomy and tasty summer. Why not to sow them by yourself? No matter if you sow a hot chilly or a decorative flower seed. Both will make you smile when the tiny seedlings pull they green heads out of the soil.

How can you start with? Well, maybe the best start is with planning. Dust off your gardening books if you have any. If not, then buy some, borrow from a local library or just search online and find out which plants you fancy the most and which one of these would be suitable for your windowsill, balcony, tiny front garden or kitchen garden. Than grab a pencil and draw your dream onto a piece of paper followed by notes.

When you made your decision about the plants you can go for seed hunting. Gardening shops and even supermarkets are selling seeds and bulbs this time of the year. We bought our seeds discounted on autumn sales and had some saved from last year's favourite plants or gifted by friends, too. Fingers crossed and they will all germinate.

The only thing left is to purchase some compost, seed trays or pots and start with sowing.

Sowing Step by Step with pictures:

1. Use fresh seed compost in seed trays, pots, modules, biodegradable pots or upcycled yoghurt pots (with a small hole at the bottom).

2. Fill a seed tray or pot with compost and gently tap down for an even surface.

3. If the seeds are small keep them in the palm of one hand. Use the forefinger of the other hand do tap the palm so the seeds drop thinly and evenly onto the compost. Separate any clusters of seeds, carefully pocking them apart using a pencil or a small wooden dibber (if they all germinate later you can remove all but the strongest seedling).

4. Lightly cover the seeds with a layer of fine compost equal to the height of the seed or as the instructions on the packaging suggests.

5. Gently tap the compost down once more and gently but thoroughly water the compost with a fine rose of watering can.

6. Although you might think your memory will never let you down it is still a good idea to label the pots or trays with date of sowing and plant name.

7. Keep the soil moist. Don't let it dry out. Watering from the bottom is better because you won't dislodge the seeds. Tip for watering: you can stand the seed trays or pots in a tray of water until the compost is moist.

8. Germination of seedlings need plenty of light, so move them into a bright spot to encourage growth, but protected from midday sun.

9. All you need now is to wait. There is nothing more exciting to see the tiny green seedlings appearing from the dark soil. Don't be sad if they don't germinate all.

10. Check them each day once or twice and water them regularly when the compost begins to dry out. You can also brush your hands gently over your seedlings each day. It helps them grow stronger and thicker.

11. If they are strong enough and their thin roots occupied the space in the tray, you can gently ease them out and plant them into posts and into the garden.

We hope you will enjoy this adventure and you will love to see the growth of your little seedlings to blooming plants as much as wee did. We wish you luck and joy with your spring seed sowing.